God's  Mercy  and  our  own  Right  Arm. 

A.    s  E  R  m:  o  ]sr 

DELIYERKD  IN  ST.  PHILLIP'S  CHURCH.  CHARLESTON, 

FEBRUARY  28,  1862, 

BY  REV.  W.  B.  W.  HOWE, 

ASSISTANT      MINISTER      OF      ST.      PIIILLIP'S. 


"Our  God,  wilt  thou  not  jndg»  them?  for  we  have  no  thankfulness  ihat  our  rulers  have  not  fallen  into 
might  ngaii.Ht  thin  great  rompaay  that  comeUi  against  ^  (^jg  delusion  and  sn'&re,  hut  that  iht-y  have  re- 
u.s  neither  know  we  whai  to  do:  but  our  eyes  are  upon  (,  pj.a,edly  confesf^ed  and  manifested  iheir  reliance 
Thee. '— Jd  Chron.,  XX.,  lii.  <  f^"'^     J   .       „         j  i      •       .  .  i 

„-    ,  ■  ,    .         .  ,       ,  L     •      >  upon  Uivine  Providence  hy  inviting  us  to  make  our 

Wehaveagam  my  beloved  brethren,  atthem-,J|^^^^,  1^  y,,,^,  j^  g„^,  ^^  ^^,„  „pou  God  in 
stance    ot  otir   Chiel    Magistrate,  asseml.led   our- ,    ^^   ^^  ^„^,  ,-^g,. 

selves  together  within    the    courts  o(   ihe    Liord  s    '     /    ,  ,  ,    ,        ,,       ,  >  ,.   , 

house,  to  implore  o(  God  that  He  would  judge  be-<  And  surely,  my  beloved  brethren,  when  we  think 
tween  us  and  our  enemies,  and  that  He  would  be<"Pon  'h^  Pa^t  year-the  hrst  of  our  Conlede  racy- 
pleased,  ot  His  infinite  mercy,  to  save  us  Irom  the', we  have  great  reason  to  say,  "Not  unio  us  O  Lord, 
hands  of  all  that  hate  us,  and  to  gram  that  we  may '. but  unto  thy  name  be  the  praise,  for  the  hrizardous 
serve  Him  without  fear,  in  holiness  and  righteous- ':  step  of  casting  ofl  old  political  bonds-  and  lorming 
nessallthe  days  of  our  life.  And  I  canno;  but'  new  ones,  has  been  en-ered  upon  and  ac^-omplish- 
eKteem  it  a  most  hapoy  augury  of  the  ultimate  tri  ^^^  '"  order  and  without  conlusion.  ho  much  ^o, 
umphof  our  cau>e,  and  an  earnest  and  pledge,^ that  were  it  not  for  this  most  unnphieous  war 
that  these  Confedera.e  States  will  be  sustained  in  :^  waged  against  us  by  those  external  to  us  we  might 
the  eventful  issue  now  pending  between  them  and  ,  have  laiddown  and  slept  citizensoliheod  Union,  to 
their  enemies-thai  those  who  have  the  chief  di  ;  wake  up  members  ol  the  new  Con  ederacy,  and 
rection  of  public  aflairs,  seem  to  be  fully  alive  to;  n«ver  have  felt  the  lea.st  shock  from  the  change,  or 
the  importance  ol  invoking  divine  favor  and  aid  -  h«ve  Iseen  di.-turoed  in  the  securi.y  of  onr  repose, 
upon  onr  coun-ry  and  arms;  lor  if,  as  Benjamin  c  We  have  been  ot  one  mind,  probably  more  so  than 
Franklin  well  remarked  in  the  Convention  of  87,  with  regard  to  iny  question  which  has  ever  at- 
a  sparrjw  cannot  i;.ll  to  the  ground  wiihont  God's  ("-acted  the  public  thought.  I  do  not  even  except 
notice,  it  is  not  probable  that  an  empire  can  rise  ^  <h«  "•evolutionary  strufzgle^of  our  fainers  with  Great 
wiihont  His  aid.  The  course  and  development  of'^  B"-":!'"-  We  have  not  suHered,  scarcely  at  all,  as 
thouaht  hasof  late  years  tended  in  a  remarkable  '  has  been  so  frequenily  the  case  in  the  history  of 
degree  towards  a  "positive  philosophy,"  which  oiher  countries,  from  the  distraciions  aruing  from 
would  exclude  from  human  aflairn  and  the  govern-^ 'he  attachment  of  an  influential  minority  to  ihe  old 
mentofihe  world  aught  beyond  purely  natural  "'J'?,'- of  Ih-ngs  as  was  the  case,  for  insiance,  la 
causes,  and  which  would  teach  us  that  to  make  an'  l^"cland,  in  the  struggle  wh-ch  placed  William  of 
appeal  to  a  Divine  Being  under  any  strait,  however  -  Orange  upon  the  throne,  and  which  bequeathed, 
pressing,  is  only  a  superior  and  more  culiivaled  '"••  '"^ny  years  to  that  land,  the  restless  at.empls 
form  otfeitcism.  As  Christians  then,  who  believe  )«'  'he  Stuart  party  to  reg.in  their  lost  dominion  ; 
in  a  personal  God,  who  reigneth  over  the  earih-)a"^  =i^  occurred,  at  a  still  earher  period,  in  the 
and  as  Christian  pauiois,  who  believe  , hat  our  J^ontest  between  Charles  I.  and  Parliament, 
country's  welfare  defiends  upon  His  favor,  and)  I  think  we  may  say  with  entire  truih'iilness, that 
that  excepi  'he  Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in /»w  have  not  been  thus  divided  among  ourrelves. 
vain    that    buiid    it,  we    have    abundant  cau^e  of  ^  We  have  been  of  one  heart  and  one  mind.     There 


2  GOD'S  MERCY  AND  OUR  OWN  RIGUT  ARM. 

are  do  adherents  of  the  old  Union  among  uv,  weak  shave  iieen  a  noble   energy,  our  enemied  have  lor 

ening  our  hands,  and  desirous  of  seeing  it  once  ^  monihs  pasi  been  girding  theni>elves  for  the  strife, 
more  assume  control.  Whatever  rtgrets  some,  and  prepurinx  ihe  implements  ol  war  wherewith 
may  have  leli  on  hrst  witnessing  the  disruption  oi  to  overwhelm  us.  Throughout  ihe  long  summer 
the  Stales,  and  the  breaking  up  o/  old  associations,  days  their  ship  yards  and  (ounderies,  their  cities 
have  long  since,  most  probably,  been  dissipated  by  upon  the  sea  coasi,  and  their  villnges  hid  among 
the  progress  of  the  war,  and  the  manifest  impossi  iiie  inouiitains,  have  been  resonant  with  the  sound 
biliiy  Of  the  restoration  of  the  Union  as  it  vns.  of  the  axe,  and  tlie  hammer,  and  the  anvil,  Ibrging 
The  most  ardent  admirer  o(  tlie  old  status  must  the  weapons  and  building  the  ships  to  be  used 
eee  now  that  his  idol  is  broken,  and  that  could  it  against  u.s.  And  not  content  with  the  fruit  of  their 
be  again  set  up  and  enthroned,  it  would  not  wear  own  exertions,  they  niiide  the  Old  World  tributary 
the  (brm  ol  his  once  loved  Union,  Ijut  nnisl  take  to  the  completeness  and  the  mugnitude  of  iheir 
the  shape  of  stern  subjugation,  and  even  he  v/ill  preparation.  Their  t^umerous  shi|)-^,  in>tead  of 
never  worshi[)  at  such  a  shrine  as  this.  Between  coming  home  laden  with  the  peaceful  fruits  of 
subjugation  and  confiscation,  and  the  establishment  commerce,  have  returned  freighted  with  arms  and 
of  the  Conlederacy,  none  are  found  to  hesitate,  all  the  muuiiionsof  war.  Their  venmrous  seamen 
Though  some  at  the  outset  may  have  doulned  have  been  detained  Iront  the  hazards  and  excite- 
whereunto  this  movement  would  grow,  and  whelh-  ment  of  the  whaling  voyage,  and  kept  at  home  in 
ents  inauguration  was  ex|)edient,  they  will  hence-  order  to  be  leady  at  the  ap|)ointed  hour,  when  all 
forth,  most  likely,  lend  all  their  energies  '.o  sustain  their  pre|)arati()ns  against  us  should  have  culmi- 
the  expressed  will  of  their  sovereipn  estates.  A.nd  iiaied  in  their  purpose  to  fill  our  bays  and  creeks, 
even,  if  iu  some  of  the  Border  States,  reverses  to  run  up  our  river.-,  and  ravage  our  coasis,  and 
to  our  arms  should  develope  exceptions  to  to  hara-s  u",  at  every  point  possi^ble,  upon  an  ele- 
this  assertion  ol  unanimity  and  prove  that  there  ment  where,  conle.->sedly,  wc  had  no  strength, 
is  an  important  minority  in  these  States,  And  on  land,  too,  they  arrayed  against  us  and  our 
which  will  athere  under  all  circumstances  to  the  cause  a  half  million  of  men,  thoroughly  armed 
Federal  Union,  we  may  safely  hope  that  thi.*  will  and  provided  for  the  work  which  has  been  given 
not  be  ;ound  the  case  in  the  heart  of  our  Cuiifed-  them  lo  do.  Th*ise  things  are  known  to  us  all. 
eracy;  but  that  the  Cotton  Sl-ites  will  continue  to  And  how  stands  the  case  with  n.s  ?  We  have 
be  united  as  one  man  through  the  luture,  as  they  (  scarcely  any  showing  at  all  upon  the  water  when 
have  been,  by  the  bleising  of  Providence,  during  compared  with  our  enemie-*.  Our  pons  have  been 
Ihe  past  year.  ,  closed  to  the  imporiaiion    of  arms,   and  our  means 

At  all  events,  whatever  distractions  may  be  in,  of  manufacturing  them  at  home  are  not  at  all  ad- 
store  for  us  among  ourselves,  thus  far  at  least  the  equate  lo  our  necessities,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
Lord  hath  liel|)ed  us,  and  for  this  we  thank  Him.  ■  scarcity  of  material.  Our  troops  are  numerous, 
But  though  we  have  been  blessed  in  this  respect, ,  and  fired  with  zeal  for  a  righteous  cause;  but,  how- 
as  also  ill  the  inaintaiuence  of  personal  rights,  and  ever  l)rave,  let  us  not  f^ill  into  the  delusion  that 
in  the  security  of  life  and  estate,  we  nevertheless  n  they  possess  all  the  courage,  or  "'that  five  of  them 
cannot  conceal  from  ourselves  that  we  have  nows  will  chase  a  hundred,  and  a  hundred  of  them 
approaclnid,  in  the  onward  j)ro^ress  of  this  great  ^should  put  ten  thous-ind  to  flight"  Has  there  not 
struggle,  a  most  critical  period  in  its  liistory."^  been  too  much  of  this  proud  boasting  among  us  ? 
Our  powers  of  endurance,  the  sincerity  of  our  )  And  was  there  not  a  lime  last  summer,  and  until 
convictions,  our  laiih  in  God,  our  willingness  loS  we  were  startled  out  of  our  dreams  by  reverses, 
l>ear  sacrifices,  will  ail  now  be  putto  the  lest.  And  I  )  when  we  had  a  mo*t  supreme  contempt  lor  the  foe, 
pray,  thai  in  iliai  hour,  (;ome  when  ii  will,  we  '  ami  when  we  thought  that  a  few  earthworks  and 
ishall  not  be  louiid  to  have  failed  in  counting  up  the 'a  floating;  batiery  or  two  would  be  amjily  sullicient 
tost.  )  to  lest    his  meitle?     I  presume  we   are  all    unde- 

if  any  of  us  havelormerly  llalteredourseivesihnt)  ceived  iiow,  however,  and  realize  ihat  there  is  no 
we  could  enter  uj)on  the  enjovment  of  the  b'es-  -  holiday  work  before  us.  And  as  we  thus  siand 
sings  which  have  been  held  up  to  our  view  with-  '  looking  at  tne  reality  of  things,  and  take  into  view 
out  paying  their  price,  that  delusion  no  lonserr' the  lull  magnitude  of  the  contest  upon  winch  we 
exists — the  veil  has  been  lifted,  and  we  now  stand  in  ^  have  embarked,  where  lies  the  hope  of  our  ulti- 
the  presence  of  a  war  terribly  iu  earnest — a  war, inmate  success?  For  no  one  I  presume  permits 
which  ere  it  is  concluded,  may  call  upon  us,  a-  it  (,  himself  to  be  so  fiint-heiined  as  to  question  t/iat. 
has  already  done  upon  so  many  oihers,  to  yield  s,  We  may  have  much  snllering  be'ore  us,  and  we 
up  our  lives  and  our  fortunes,  and  ever\  thiiist  \  may  be  called  upon  to  endure  privation;  |>erhaps 
save  honor  and  faith  in  the  purposes  of  God  And*)  we  may  be  overrun  by  the  enemy  as  witn  a  Hood, 
hence  it  is  we  are  here  to-day,  like  the  Jews  of  ^  but  this  will  not  be  subjusjaticm — we  should  but 
old,  with  our  wives  and  our  children,  to  humbleS  reireat  from  our  toivns  and  river  banks  and  en- 
ourselves  before  God,  to  confess  to  Eiim  our  sins,  ^iirench  ourselves  among  the  hills,  while  ulti- 
and  to  beseech  Him,  that  He  would  be  our  shield  ■)  maieiy  the  foreign  wave  will  be  driven  back, 
and  our  defence.  "Our  God,  will  Thou  not  judge  i  But  still,  where,  as  things  stand,  does  our 
them?  for  we  have  no  miijht  against  thii  great  ^  hore,  and  the  hope  of  this  Conlederacy  lie?  Is 
com  pany  that  cometh  against  us;  neither  know^  it  in  the  intervention  of  foreign  powers?  Do  we 
we  what  to  do:  but  our  eyes  are  upon  Thee."  ;stand    or    fall    in   this    contest    according  as  they 

With  an  energy  which,  in  a  better  cause  would  >  recognize  or  do  not  recognize  us?     I  rcust  confess 


GOD'S  MERCY  AND  OUR  OWN  RIGHT  ARM. 

that  1  think  we  have  look  d  somewhat  too  anxi-  noi  see  (it  to  viiidicare  their  own  declarations,  but 
ously  ill  this  direction.  We  have  weighed  the ■  choose  to  put  up  with  their  acknowledged  viola- 
words  of  European  state*men  and  kings.  We  lion,  we,  certainly,  who  have  as  yet  no  recognized 
have  built  expectations  upon  iheir  necessitie-,  and  '  place  among  the  nations,  have  no  occasion  lo  be 
have  drawn  the  conclusion,  time  and  aa;ain,  I  hat  more  jealous  for  their  honor  than  they  are  them- 
the  day  was  at  hand  which  mur-t  see  them  come 'selves.  In  every  light,  then,  it  would  seem  to  be 
to  our  aid,  and  yet  the 'lay  has  not  come,  and  at',  better  if  we  could  forgti  Europe  altogether,  and 
this  moment  seems  (unher  off  than  ever.  When 'hoping  nothing,  and  asking  no  favors,  and  exptsct- 
the  Jews  were  threatened  wiih  invasion,  and  ,ing  nothing  at  her  hands,  work  out  our  political 
turned  to  their  powerltil  neighbor  Egypt  'or  as:-is»  ,  sal  vation  with  our  own  hands,  as  God  shall  give 
tance  and    sup|)ori,    instead  ol    fighting  their  own  ,  us  the  ability. 

bailies  under  an  unwavering  trust  in  God,  the  ,  If  we  believe  our  own  declarations  we  are  com- 
prophet  was  bid  to  bear  to  them  this  message:  peteni  to  this  end;  if  we  are  not,  if  we  cannot 
"Woe  to  I  e  rebellious  children,  saiih  the  Lord,  maintain  ourselves,  or  if  we  are  unwilling  to  en« 
that  lake  counsel  but  not  of  me;  and  thai  cover  counter  the  privations  incident  lo  a  protracted  war, 
with  a  covering  but  not  of  my  spirit — that  walk  to  'then  we  h.id  better  never  hove  undertaken  this 
go  down  in'o  Eijypt  and  have  not  asked  at  my  matter,  and  subjugation  will  be  the  due  reward  of 
mouth;  to  .sireUitthen  themselves  in  the  strength  len  millions  of  men,  who,  wiih  the  best  of  causes, 
of  Pharaoh,  nml  to  tru-t  in  ihe  shadow  of  Egypt!  and  on  their  own  soil,  could  not,  or,  what  is  worse, 
Therefore  shnll  ihe  sirengih  of  P.iarauh  be  great  would  not  defend  it  against  twenty  millions, 
shame,  and  the  trust  in  the  shudow  of  Egypt  great  •  If,  then,  we  cannot,  and  what  is  more,  ought 
corruption."  And  so  perhaps  in  a  measure  with  not  lo  look  to  others  to  take  up  our  cause, 
ourselves.  Il  would  jirohably  have  been  better  ihe  question  again  comes  back,  what  is  to  in- 
for  Us  ihis  day — we  should  now  be  in  greater  sure  it^  success?  Is  it  its  justice,?  We 
forwardness  to  meet  ihe  (oe,if  we  had  never  given,  know  that  he  who  has  righteousness  wiih  him  is 
from  the  very  beginning,  one  solitary  thought  ihrico  armed;  but  we  know,  too,  or  we  have 
looking  towards  EuropeMn  interveniion.  If  from  :' read  the  fact  lo  little  purpose,  that  justice  and  tri- 
the  ouiset  we  had  looked  only  unio  Gud  and  ours  umph  do  not  always  go  together.  Indeed,  what 
selves,  instead  of  awaiting  anxiously  tor  inielli-  suiggers  men  when  they  see  in  private  life  the 
geiice  by  ihe  latest  steamer,  and  pond^'ring  upon  good  man  depressed  and  the  wicked  exalted,  holds 
li.e  remark  of'  this  lord,  or  that  lor'i  in  Pcirliaineiit,  jfood  on  a  lar^e  scale  in  respect  to  nations.  Here, 
and  being  buoyed  up  wiih  hope  to  day,  or  depres-  ,  aUo,  the  unjust  are  in  prosperity  and  the  righteous 
sed  to  morrow  according  as  it  was  inierpreied  in  ,  brought  into  !»ubjection.  Wiui'iss,  among  many 
our  favor  or  against  us.  I  believe  we  should  this  S  instances,  that  most  marked  one  of  the  crusade  in 
day  be  far  beiier  off.  Uncon.sciously  to  our.-elves,  Nihe  ivvelf  h  century  against  the  Albigensians,  inci- 
perhaps,  the  lielief,  which  has  t:iken  such  sirong)  ted  by  Pope  Innocent  III  ,  and  conducted  by  that 
hold  of  the  ()0|)ular  con  viciions  ihut  the  manufac- i  noted  captain,  8imon  de  Montfort.  Three  hun- 
turing  inierests  ofEurO|re,  and  particularly  En-  dred  thousand  men  of  arms  invade  the  beautiful 
gland,  could  noi  lont;  endure  the  blockade  ofour  S)uil;  of  France,  though  Count  Raymond,  of  Tou- 
ports,  has  p.ilsied  souiewhat  our  energies.  If,  as  louse,  had  done  all  in  his  power  lo  obtain  peace 
We  believed,  England  must  in  sheer  seli-preserva-  .from  Rome,  and  lay  it  waste,  and  transfer  the  do- 
lion  intervene,    why    should  we,    at  vasi  expense,  minion  to  the  usurper. 

prepare  tor  a  war  which  will  be  virtfially  ended  "Never,"  says  the  historian,  "in  the  history  of 
with  the  opening  ofour  ports?  The  triuh  is,  we  man  were  the  great  eternal  (>rinciple8  of  justice, 
seem  to  have  iiiiscalculited  almgeiher  England's  ,  the  fiit'i  of  treaties,  common  humanity,  sO  iram- 
abiliiy  todo  wiiliout  us.  and  have  built  loo  mu,.h'i(>led  underfoot  as  in  the  Albigensian  war.  N>:;ver 
upon  our  supreme  imponaiice  to  her  exis'ence.S  was  war  waged  in  which  ambiiion,the  conscious' 
She  is  abundanlly  able,  if  she  plea<es,  to  make  I  he  \  ness  of  strength,  rapacity,  implacable  hatred  and 
question  sim[ily  one  in  arithmetic,  and  consider'- pitiless  cruelty  played  a  greater  part."  *  Never- 
wheiherii  uould  be  che  per  to  .support  her  idle  theless,  as  we  well  know,  they  triumphed, 
and  starving  popniaiion  (rim  th-^  p  ib  ic  treasury,  i  In  later  times,  who  has  not  heard  of  the  parti- 
or  engage  in  war  with  the  IJniied  S'a'es  in  order  .  tion  of  P.dand  ?  We  may  well  pause  then,  wiih 
to  procure  for  them  the  material  wherewith  to  these  lights  before  us,  before  placing  our  reliance 
work.  And  if  she  decides  for  the  former,  who/upon  the  justice  of  our  cause.  And  in  fact  ihe 
shall  find  fault  with  her?  Ceriainly  not  we,  and  /  purest  of  causes  is  so  invariably  tinged  more  or 
indeed  a  nation,  who  ha.s  onee  sacrifi.-ed  some  of,  less  by  unworthy  motives  on  ihe  part  of  its  a<'he- 
herlinesi  Cdlonies  for  the  i-ake  of  a  whim  as  was,  rents,  and  il  is  soofien  brought  into  alliance  with 
the  ca-e  wiih  her  West  Itidia  possessions,  may  ;  evil,  that  il  is  not  well  to  plead  it  exclusively  be- 
well  be  siipp  )-ed  to  do  Hs  she  li-t>  in  this  instance  (  fore  Him  who  sees  not  as  man  sees,  «nd  who  is  of 

The    only    right,    strieily  s|ieaking,   we    have  lo    loo    pure    eyes    to    look   upon    iniquity,    and   who 
expect  that  foreign  poA'er.s  will    iniervene  to  o|ien    charges   His  a'lgels  wiih  folly. 

our  ports  is,  that  according  lo  their  own  priiici|)les  \  No,  brettiren ;  our  strengiti  and  our  hope  lie  not 
of  international  law,  the  blockade  of  our  (!Oasl  is  >' here,  in  resting  upon  oar  own  r  ghtmusnesx  \a. 
void  *  But,  then,  so  long  as  European  nations  do y his  war;  but  after  we  have  done  all  ihat  it  be- 
^C'lTies   us  to  do,  then  to  humble  ourselves    before 

♦Congress  of  Paris  refuses  to  recogDize  any  block- S 

ade  not  effective,  &c.  '-     *  Milman's  Latin  Christianity,  toI.  iv,  p.  122. 


4  GOUS  MERCY  AND  OUR  OWN  RIGHT  ARM. 

the  Divine  iiiajesiy,  and  to  plead  ift.vmffrr^.  This  (,  do  nothing  unto  ua,  save  uliat  la  wtiiien  liy  ihe 
is  the  example  set  us  in  the  chapter  Iruin  whence  (finger  of  God,  and  so  long  as  we  can  look  up  and 
my  text  is  choi^en.  ,*>*y  Abba,  Father,  we  need  not  fear  thatihe  weight 

Moab  and  Ammon  invade  Judah  viih  a  greatSotihat  finger  will  be  ii-ed  to  cru.»h  us  ''Thea 
muliitude  from  beyond  the  sea,  and  Jehosaphat^  upon  Jahaziel  ilie  Son  o(  Zecharinh,  a  Leviie,  came 
proclaims  a  fast,  and  stands  with  all  Judah  before  the  Spirit  o(  ilie  Lord  in  the  iiud.»i  of  ihecon- 
the  Lord,  "with  their  little  ones,  tlieir  wives,  and  ^  gregatioii — and  be  said:  Harken  ye,  nil  Judali,  and 
their  children,"  and  says :  "O,  our  God,  wilt  thou;ye  inhabitants  of  Jerusnk-iii,  and  thou  King  of 
not  judge  them  ?  lor  we  have  no  might  against  j/Jehosaphat.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  you,  be 
this  great  company  that  cometh  against  us;  neither  1^  not  afraid  nor  disniaytd  by  rea^on  ol  ihis  great 
know  we  what  to  do;  but  our  eyes  are  upon  ^^  company;  lor  the  biiitle  is  not  yours,  but  God's." 
Thee."  /      In  the  meantime,  also,  we  liave  eveiy  temporal 

And  so  let  «.' stand  before  the  Lord  our  God  this  J  inducement  that  a  people  can  have  lo  contend 
day,  humbling  ourselves  before  Him  in  the  con'es-,  unto  the  death,  and  to  suffer  the  loss  ol  all  things 
sion  of  sins,  and  of  those  things  especially  whereof,  if  necessary  to  the  cslahli.-hment  of  our  cause, 
each  one's  conscience  is  most  afraid,  and  beseech  (  We  contend  for  the  traditions  of  our  lathers, 
ing  Him  to  acknowledge  us  as  His  people  and  ihci  for  the  sanctity  of  our  homes,  for  the  rights  of 
sheep  of  His  pasture,  and  that  (or  His  great  name's;  property,  nay  for  our  very  exisleuce.  Whatever 
sake  He  would  noi  suffer  us  to  be  giveu  over  into/terms  the  victoriousfoe  iiiightgruntto  the  people  ot 
the  hands  ot  our  enemies.  ^  the  other  States  Confcderaie  with  us,  we  know  full 

We  know    that  all  things  are   in    His  hand,  and ',  well  would  not  be  granied  to  </t»i-.     We   shall  have 
that  He  doeth  whatsoever  pleaseth  Him  in  the  ar-^^no  part  or  lot  in  any  amnesiy. 
mies  of  Heaven  and  of  earth.  ,      Our  State  would  be  regarded  as   politically  rep- 

When  His  ancient  people  were  smitten  down  ■,  roUate,  made  to  be  taken  and  destroyed.  We 
before  their  enemies,  and  they  turned  to  Him  with  should  be  the  renegades  chosen  to  be  made  an 
weeping  and  fastins  and  mourning,  then  He  heard  example  of,  in  order  to  inspire  others  less  guilty 
them  in  Heaven,  His  dwelling  place,  and  forgave';  than  ourselves  wiih  a  wholesome  awe. 
their  sin,  and  brought  them  again  into  the  land  >  Already,  in  anticipation  of  final  success,  we  hear 
which  He  eave  unto  their  fathers.  of  petitions  sent  in    to   the    Northern  Congress  to 

When  Nineveh  was  threatened  with  a  swilt  de-  ;  destroy  the  name  of  the  Slate  and  to  divide  it  be- 
struction,  the  King  thereof  published  a  decree, )  tween  our  neighbors  North  Carolina  and  Georgia, 
saying,  '-Let  neither  man  nor  beast,  herd  nor  flock  ;  But  whatever  might  be  the  fate  reserved  for  us 
ta.-le  anyihing;  let  them  not  feed  nor  drink  water;  by  our  enemies,  in  the  hour  of  their  triumph,  who 
yea,  let  them  turn  every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and ,  is  there  among  us,  that  doubis,  whether  it  would 
from  the  violence  that  is  in  their  hands."  "And,  not  be  a  worse  one  than  any  that  will  be  likely  to 
God  saw  their  works,  that  they  turned  from  their  befall  us  from  a  war  prolonued  till  they  ihemselvea 
evil  way;  and  God  repented  Him  of  the  evil  thai?  sicken  of  it?  So  long  as  God  gives  us  the  ability 
He  said  He  would  do  unto  them,  and  He  did  iti' to  bear  arms,  it  were  a  thousand  limes  better  to 
not."  And  so  if  we,  this  day,  throughout  these  suffer  all  the  hardships,  and  losses,  and  honorable 
Confederate  States,  thus  humble  ourselves,  and  ^  deaths,  which  come  in  the  train  ol  war,  fearful 
put  away  the  evil  that  is  in  our  hands — if  we,  from?  and  heart-rending  as  they  might  be,  than  to  come 
the  least  to  Ihe  greatest,  plead  not  our  own  righ-^  under  the  yoke  of  a  foe  who  would  laugh  at  our 
teou^ness,  but  God's  mercy,  we  shall  not  fail  ol^  a  calamities  ^id  mock  at  our  fear — when  our  fear 
blessing.  Either  God  will  avert  the  disasters  we  came  as  ilesolation,  and  our  destruction  came  as 
so  much  fear,  or  if,  in  His  wisdom.  He  permits, a  whirlwind;  when  distress  and  anguish  came 
them  to  occur,  they  will  be  so  tempered  with  mercy  '.  upon  us. 

and  loving  kindness  as  ultimately  to  work  together^  Let  us  then,  reposing  upon  Divine  mercy,  and 
for  our  good.  \coiivinced   of  the  righteousness  of  our  cause,  and 

When  then  we  see  tlie    preparations   that    have)in  spite  of  the  reverses  whiih  have  already  over- 


been  made  to    ovprwhelra    us,   and  they  are  truly '.taken  us,  and  not  fearing  overmuch  the  threaten- 
formidable,  and    contrast  with  then    our    means  of  ;  ing  aspect   of  things  belore    us,   go  forward  from 


defence — when  we  hear  of  the  fleets  which  threat- _)  this  day's  renewed  dedication  ot  ourselves  unto 
en  our  coast  at  various  point>,  and  of  armies  inov- j  God,  with  our  dcierminaiion  more  firmly  establish- 
ing down  upon  us  from  so  many  quariers;  and  )  ed  than  ever,  either  to  win  the  great  object  of  our 
when  we  aie  tempted  to  fear  lest  we  liave  no  ;  struggle,  or  else,  if  such  be  not  ihe  divine  pleasure 
might  against  this  great  company  that  cometh;  and  purpose,  then,  while  bowing  to  that  pleasure, 
against  us,  and  know  not  what  to  Ao,  then  ht  our}  \o  ha  known  An\onf:.  men  only  as  a  people,  who 
eyes  be  iiyov  Gor/;  and  while  doing,  with  all  our^fought  unto  death  for  all  that  made  home  dear, 
might,  what  our  hands  find  to  do,  wait  jiatiently  )  and  the  n.iine  ol  their  country  laudable,  honorable, 
till  the  day  of  our  salvation  draws  near.     Man  can  J^  and  glorious. 


c. 


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